UAE company setup cost 2026: free zones compared

Official year-one fees for a UAE company run from AED 6,000 (about US$1,634) for the entry package RAKEZ publishes, to about AED 76,200 (US$20,750) for a standard DIFC private company. Those are the authorities' own published fees, checked on 10 November 2026. Visas, office space and provider fees sit on top.

That gap is wide, and most of it comes down to choices you make before you file anything. The figures below are drawn only from what each authority publishes. Authorities can change their fees without notice, so treat every number here as a starting point to confirm, not a promise. Where an authority publishes nothing, this guide says so rather than guessing.

How much does it cost to set up a company in the UAE in 2026?

Three things set the price, and they matter more than any package name.

• Who licenses you: a free zone authority, a financial free zone such as ADGM or DIFC, or Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for the mainland. If you are still weighing that first choice, read our guide to UAE mainland vs free zone.
• Whether you need residence visas: a no-visa licence and a licence with one owner visa can differ by thousands of dirhams.
• The office the authority requires: some zones include a flexi-desk or shared workstation, others charge rent separately.

The table below sets out the official published set-up fees by authority.

Two gaps stand out. IFZA does not publish its fees, and DET publishes no single total for a mainland company. No official figure exists for either.

Free zone fees compared: RAKEZ, Meydan, IFZA and DMCC

These four are listed from the lowest published fee upwards.

RAKEZ publishes a Biz Starter package at AED 6,000 (about US$1,634), covering up to 50 shareholders, up to 10 activities and coworking centre membership. The page is aimed at UAE-based entrepreneurs and mentions no visa and no renewal price. Its all-inclusive package costs AED 14,000 a year (about US$3,812) and includes the business licence, a shared workstation and one UAE residence visa with immigration file, Emirates ID and medical arrangements. RAKEZ guarantees the same price at renewal, allows up to 3 more visas at AED 4,000 each and offers 20% off dependent visas.

Meydan Free Zone starts from AED 12,500 a year (about US$3,404), covering company registration, up to 3 activity groups and a flexi-desk, with no paid-up share capital. Its Fawri instant licence starts from AED 15,000. Visas are priced separately.

IFZA publishes no fee schedule and works through its Professional Partners, so no official figure can be given. Ask for IFZA's own written fee breakdown before you pay anything.

DMCC prices line by line, and its standard charges total AED 34,185 before the office. A flexi-desk adds AED 16,000 to AED 19,000, and a general trading licence costs AED 50,265 a year. DMCC itself says a first year typically costs AED 35,000 to AED 50,000 including a flexi-desk. For help choosing between zones, see which UAE free zone to choose.

ADGM and DIFC: what the financial free zones charge

Both price in US dollars and both are common-law financial centres, which is why holding structures and regulated businesses often pick them.

ADGM charges a non-financial company US$5,800 in year one (about AED 21,300): name reservation US$200, incorporation application US$300, commercial licence US$200, business activity fee US$4,800 and data protection US$300. Renewal is US$5,300 plus a US$100 confirmation statement, so US$5,400 a year. Retail companies pay US$2,800, and qualifying tech start-ups can use an incentive of US$1,500 a year for three years.

DIFC is the dearer of the two. A non-retail private company pays US$8,000 to incorporate, US$12,000 for the licence on incorporation and each year, US$750 for data protection notification (then US$250 a year) and US$300 a year for the confirmation statement. That makes US$20,750 in year one and US$12,550 a year after (about AED 46,090). Retail companies pay US$3,400 to incorporate and US$5,100 for the licence. The Innovation licence costs US$100 plus US$1,500 a year, with conditions attached to keeping it beyond the discounted period.

Holding vehicles cost less. An ADGM SPV is US$1,900 to register (ADGM SPV cost), and a DIFC Prescribed Company is US$100 to incorporate and US$1,000 a year (DIFC Prescribed Company rules and cost). The table below breaks down the DMCC, ADGM and DIFC line items.

Dubai mainland: why there is no fixed price

DET does not publish one set-up price for a mainland company. Your cost depends on the activity, the legal form, the premises and any approvals other authorities require. A restaurant and a consultancy follow very different paths.

What DET does is issue a payment voucher for each application, payable within 30 days. Your Dubai tenancy contract must be registered with Ejari. Full foreign ownership is allowed for most commercial and industrial activities. Dubai Chamber membership adds AED 300 to AED 2,200 a year depending on legal form, owner nationality or activity.

Before you commit, ask DET, or whoever files on your behalf, for the payment voucher estimate in writing. Any mainland "package price" you see that is not built from those vouchers is a provider's figure, not an official one.

Worked totals: year one and each year after

Each example below is a sum of official published fees, not a quote. The table below sets out the full figures.

Example A: no visa, lowest published option. RAKEZ's Biz Starter at AED 6,000, or Meydan from AED 12,500. RAKEZ is cheaper on paper, but its page gives no renewal price, so you cannot plan year two from it.

Example B: one owner visa. RAKEZ's all-inclusive package costs AED 14,000 a year, visa included. At Meydan, year one comes to AED 22,600: the AED 12,500 licence, about AED 7,850 for a first investor visa and AED 2,250 for medical and Emirates ID assistance, all using Meydan's own "from" prices.

Example C: a regional base.

• DMCC: AED 34,185 in year one and AED 22,110 (about US$6,020) a year after, both before the office.
• ADGM: US$5,800 in year one, then US$5,400 a year.
• DIFC: US$20,750 in year one, then US$12,550 a year.

The renewal column is the one people forget. Our guide to UAE licence renewal cost covers what happens if a renewal is missed.

Costs the published fees do not cover

The headline business setup cost in the UAE rarely includes everything.

• Residence visas: fees for visas, establishment cards and Emirates ID sit outside most licence prices. The table below lists the visa and immigration fees the authorities publish. Meydan, for example, charges an investor visa from AED 4,000, an employee visa from AED 3,500 and a one-time immigration establishment card from AED 2,000. For quotas, see how free zone visa costs and quotas work.

• Office space: DMCC, ADGM and DIFC require a registered office in the zone. DIFC allows shared or co-working space. Rents are not in the fee schedules.
• Extra activities: Meydan charges AED 1,000 for each activity group beyond three. DMCC charges AED 1,500, AED 10,000 or AED 20,265 a year depending on the activity code.
• Corporate tax registration: registering with the Federal Tax Authority is free but mandatory.
• Provider fees: these vary; ask for a fixed quote.

Authorities can change fees without notice, and DMCC says so on its own schedule. Recheck every figure on the day you apply.

Cosmos is an AI-native platform with named specialists. We arrange UAE licences and regulated filings through licensed local partners, our own team does the bookkeeping, and UAE tax returns go through an FTA-registered tax agent. Renewal dates and tax registrations sit in one place. Book a demo to see how that works for your company.

FAQ

What is the cheapest free zone in the UAE in 2026?

Among the authorities compared here, RAKEZ publishes the lowest fee with its AED 6,000 Biz Starter package, which includes no visa and states no renewal price. Meydan starts from AED 12,500 a year with a flexi-desk. IFZA publishes no fees, so it cannot be compared on official figures.

How much does a Dubai mainland company cost?

There is no fixed price. DET issues a payment voucher for each application, payable within 30 days, and the total depends on activity, legal form, premises and outside approvals. Ask for the voucher estimate before committing.

How much does an IFZA licence cost?

IFZA does not publish its fees and works through Professional Partners. Ask for IFZA's own written fee breakdown before paying. IFZA states it requires no paid-up capital.

Is ADGM cheaper than DIFC?

Yes, for a standard company. ADGM costs US$5,800 in year one against US$20,750 at DIFC, and US$5,400 a year after against US$12,550.

What does a UAE company cost each year after set-up?

On published fees: RAKEZ all-inclusive AED 14,000, Meydan from AED 12,500, DMCC AED 22,110 before the office, ADGM US$5,400 and DIFC US$12,550. Visa renewals and rent come on top.

Do I need a visa or an office to set up a UAE company?

A visa is optional; RAKEZ's Biz Starter and a basic Meydan licence include none. An office depends on the authority: DMCC, ADGM and DIFC require a registered office in the zone, while RAKEZ and Meydan bundle a workstation or flexi-desk.